The Baptism and Filling of the Holy Spirit

Memory Text: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10, NIV).

As Christians, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit. Without Him, our witness will be powerless and our Christian life nothing but a burden. We might have learning, talent, and eloquence, but without the Spirit, we cannot experience life as God intended for us to. We will not have the assurance of salvation and will not know the joy that comes from serving our Lord. We will be Christians in name only, and a Christian in name only is not really a Christian at all.

Jesus, however, wants us to live life to its fullest. He wants to give us life as it is meant to be, a life that is fulfilling and meaningful because it is rooted in the Source of all life: Jesus Christ. He is the Creator of all life, and the only way to eternal life. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6, NKJV). This fullness is possible only by being joined to Him, and this can happen only through the Holy Spirit's working in our lives.

This week we will study what the Bible says about the baptism of the Spirit and what it means to be filled with Him. We will also look at some evidence that testifies that we are, indeed, filled with the Spirit.

Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, February 4.

Sunday January 29

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

In the New Testament there are only seven passages that speak about being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Four of those passages go back to John the Baptist and point to Pentecost. Here the Holy Spirit was given to usher in the beginning of "the last days" of salvation history.

John, however, in contrast to the other Gospels, does not use the future tense when speaking about the baptism of the Spirit. Instead, he uses a present participle, indicating that this is something that has continuing validity (see John 1:33). The same tense is used by John just a few verses earlier in John 1:29, when he talks about another important work of Jesus: the taking away of the sins of the world. The ministry of Jesus consists in taking away our sins and in giving us the Holy Spirit. This twofold experience is also reported in Acts 2:38. After their eyes were opened to Christ, the disciples received both: forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit. The same experience is reported about the believers in the house of Cornelius in Acts 10:43, 44 and later in Acts 11:16. Water baptism is known as the baptism of repentance (Acts 19:4). When we repent of sin and are baptized in the name of Jesus, we also receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:28-39).

In the New Testament, the receiving of the Holy Spirit and baptism belong together. They signal our new birth. In baptism we are identified with Christ, and Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit so that we can live in His power and proclaim the good news. The baptism of the Spirit is no second work of grace at a later stage in life that some associate with miraculous gifts.

In 1 Corinthians 12:13, Paul does not have in mind the unique experience at Pentecost, but rather the experience of all believers. He states that by one Spirit we all are baptized into one body, and all were made to drink of one Spirit. Paul emphasizes unity. The word "all" is crucial. Paul connects the initiation of all believers into the body of Christ with the baptism of the Spirit.

What has been your own experience in being baptized by the Holy Spirit? What has He meant for your life? What would you be like without Him working in you?

Monday January 30

Being Filled With the Holy Spirit

Once we are baptized and belong to Christ, we should live in the power of the Spirit. For this to happen we have to be filled with the Spirit. There are numerous references in the New Testament where people are filled with the Spirit (Luke 1:41, 67; Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 9:17; 13:9). The apostle Paul uses the word filling to say that a person has completely submitted to God and is open for the guiding influence of the Holy Spirit so that God's own work can be accomplished in the person's life.

If we yield to the influence of alcohol, our walk, talk, and thoughts will be negatively affected. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we yield every part of our life to His transforming influence with the result that our walk, talk, and thoughts will reflect Jesus.

While the Spirit is given by the hearing of faith (Gal. 3:2) and is received through faith (Gal. 3:14) at our baptism (Titus 3:5, 6), we need to seek the infilling of the Holy Spirit every day. We can't live off a powerful experience that we had last year, or last month, or even yesterday. We need the infilling of God's Spirit each day, for each day brings its own challenges.

In the Greek of Acts 13:52, the term filled with the Spirit is in the imperfect tense, signifying continuous action. It literally means: "being (continuously) filled." Being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event. It is something that we should seek and receive every day. This filling has to be repeated so that every part of our life is filled with His presence, and so we are empowered to live as we should.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit does not so much mean that we possess more of Him but that He possesses more of us. Only when we commit all aspects of our life to the Spirit every day can He use us to God's glory.

"I wish to impress upon you the fact that those who have Jesus abiding in the heart by faith, have actually received the Holy Spirit. Every individual who receives Jesus as his personal Saviour, just as surely receives the Holy Spirit to be his Counselor, Sanctifier, Guide, and Witness." - Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 14, p. 71.

Tuesday January 31

Conditions: Part 1

God's Word points to certain conditions needed for the Spirit to abide in us. We will look at some important ones during the next two days.

ReadActs 2:37, 38. What is the first condition for receiving the Holy Spirit?

One condition for receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit is repentance. Hearing the Word of God arouses our conscience and can lead us to an awareness of our true sinfulness and lost condition. True repentance is more than just feeling sorry for the dire consequences of our sin. It is a thorough change of heart and mind so that we see sin for what it really is: an ugly evil and rebellion against God. The only way that we can experience true repentance is to be touched by the love of God: "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" (Rom. 2:4, NASB).

Jesus has promised to send the Spirit as His representative. In faith we receive the promised gift. But if we doubt God's promise and do not trust His Word, we are like a double-minded person and cannot expect to receive anything from God. Faith is more than intellectual assent. It is putting our lives on the line, trusting that God will keep His Word and not let us down, regardless of what happens.

God is not reluctant to give us the Spirit. God is good and benevolent, more than we can be even to our own children. Our persistent intercession does not change His mind. Our prayer changes us and brings us into God's presence. Prayer doesn't bring God down to us but brings us up to Him. Our prayers simply reveal our determination and they prepare us for the gift.

How can we learn to be more fervent, diligent, and self-surrendering in our own prayer life? Why is it important that we do learn these things?

Wednesday February 1

Conditions: Part 2

ReadActs 5:32. Why is obedience to God's Word an important condition for receiving the Holy Spirit?

Then, as now, the Holy Spirit is granted to all who obey God. In the Bible, love and obedience go hand in hand, and true faith is expressed in obedience. If we trust God with all our hearts, we will obey His commandments. Jesus said: "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word" (John 14:23, NASB). Obedience is a choice leading to a lifestyle that follows God's will as expressed in His law. We must continue in obedience if we want to acknowledge Jesus as our Lord (Luke 6:46). In 1 John 2:4, 5 we are told that "the one who says, 'I have come to know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected" (NASB). Those are strong words. From John we also know that "the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us" (1 John 3:24, NASB). When we do what God has commanded, we will have peace of mind.

ReadJude 18-21. Why do we need to avoid all impurity if we want to be filled with the Spirit?

The fire of the Holy Spirit cannot keep burning in our lives when we are worldly-minded. The Holy Spirit reacts very sensitively to the existence of all sin and worldliness in our lives. Therefore we need to keep ourselves in the love of God and be connected with God through prayer so that we will shun all impurity and display a spirit of power, love, and discipline (2 Tim. 1:6, 7). Only through a close and fierce battle with self can we be the kind of people we should become. Of course, we can't do it ourselves; the battle comes in our choice of either surrendering our wills to the prompting of the Holy Spirit or allowing the flesh to dominate. The choice is ours.

"There is no limit to the usefulness of one who, by putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God." - Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 250, 251. How can you apply these words to your own spiritual life?

Self-centered Living Versus Christ-centered Living

The life of a person who does not live in the Spirit is radically different from the life and values of a person who is filled with the Spirit.

Self-centered Person

Spirit-controlled Person

Desires what is sinful and displeasing to God

Desires what is spiritual and pleasing to God

Is controlled by sinful passions

Is controlled by the Spirit

Misuses his/her freedom and gets enslaved in sin

Is set free from the bondage of sin and is called to freedom in Christ

Is disobedient to God's will

Is obedient to God's will

Is self-indulgent

Is self-sacrificing

Displays the fruit of sin

Displays the fruit of the Spirit

Does not recognize the need for forgiveness and is boastful of self

Recognizes the need for forgiveness and praises Jesus for what He has done

The life of a person who is filled with God's Spirit is characterized by a loving obedience to God's law and a gentle spirit of compassion for others (see 2 Cor. 5:14, NASB). Having been renewed in our mind and thinking and having received a new heart and a new outlook on life, our values and behavior will change. We want to live our life no longer in our own strength but in submission to the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:3).

We cannot transform ourselves. We possess no real power to change ourselves, for sin is too deeply ingrained in us. The renewing energy must come from God. The change from within can be successful only through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. No mere external change, such as correcting this or that bad habit, makes us Christians. The change has to come from a heart renewed by the Holy Spirit.

This is the work of a lifetime, a work that will have its up and downs, but a work that God promises to do in us if we surrender to Him. "[B]eing confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6, NKJV).

In what areas of your life do you see the selfish, self-centered part come through, and in what parts do you see a life that reflects the working of the Holy Spirit in you? What does your answer tell you about yourself and the choices you need to make?

Friday February 3

Further Thought: It is only natural for any person to seek control of one's life. We normally depend on our own efforts to achieve all that we can. While many people spend their lives in a quest for control, others have an unhealthy fear of losing control. This human dilemma finds an answer only in God. He wants you to give to Him, Your Creator and Redeemer, full control. He knows and loves you as nobody else can. This opens the door for Him to work in your life. By choosing to submit your will to the leading of God's Holy Spirit, you will have His supernatural peace and boundless opportunities to be a blessing to others. But we need the desire for this power in our lives. God doesn't force Himself on any of us. To be moral beings we need to be free beings. And to be truly free in Christ we need a sense of abandonment (that of wanting to abandon our old sinful and fallen ways) and a sense of abiding (that of abiding in the power of the Holy Spirit). To be truly free, we must be truly surrendered to the control of the Holy Spirit. But there is no contradiction here. Our freedom is found in liberation from the condemnation and power of sin, which always enslaves us and always leads to death. Instead, by surrendering to the Lord, and making way for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, not only are we no longer condemned (see Rom. 8:1) but we live a life where we "do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (NKJV). That's the only true freedom that we, as sinful and fallen beings, can ever know.

Why is it important to put self aside and consecrate our lives wholly to God before the Holy Spirit can work mightily through us? What could God do in you that would make you more of a blessing to others if you put self aside and opened your heart to the workings of the Holy Spirit in you?

"The Christian's life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit." - Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 172. Discuss in class the implications of these words.

Compare the evidence of a self-centered life with a life that is Spirit-filled (see chart on Thursday). Discuss with the members of your Sabbath school group what the greatest blessing of a Spirit-filled life could be for us.

Inside Story~
Inter-European Division

Finding God's Plan, Part 2

Roza continued attending the Adventist church, and she became convinced that this was where God wanted her to be. After attending the church for several months, Roza asked to be baptized.

Her parents were angry when she told them about her decision. For the first time in her life her father hit her. And her mother demanded that she leave the house.

Roza packed a few clothes and her school textbooks and left her parents' home. She went to stay with an Adventist family who lived nearby. Two weeks later Roza's mother sent her sister to ask her to return home.

She was permitted to sleep in her own bed, but her parents no longer supported her financially. A scholarship paid her school tuition, but Roza took a job cleaning the church to pay for food and other necessities. She spent most of her time in class and studying in the school library, going home only to sleep. Roza managed to finish college on her own.

Roza knew that her mother was worried about her. "How will you ever find a husband?" she asked. Roza knew her mother had a point, for there weren't many Adventists in Poland. But she claimed God's promises to provide for her in every way.

While Roza was preparing for baptism she met Krystov [Chris-toff], a young man who lived in another city and was also planning to be baptized. The two began writing to each other, and in time they began dating. Eventually they were married.

Krystov entered the ministry, and Roza began her career as a teacher. Her family saw that the couple was happy in their faith and in their work, and they have reconciled with their daughter. Roza hopes that one day soon her parents will find the joy in Jesus that she and Krystov know.

Roza is grateful to God for leading her to the Savior through the influence of her grandmother, a Bible lecture brochure, and a Bible camp filled with friendly youth who welcomed her.

This quarter, you can help reach many more people in Poland for Jesus through your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. Part of this quarter's will fund live television programs aimed specifically toward children and youth on Hope Channel Poland. Thank you for your support through the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering. Did you know that you don't have to wait until the last Sabbath of the quarter to give to this special offering? Give online now at our secure website: giving.adventistmission.org and choose "13th Sabbath Offering from the pull-down fund menu. Thank you!

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